Infection alert on mattresses

20th January 2010

The MHRA has issued a medical device alert to health units for all types of mattresses.

It follows an investigation which showed there was a widespread lack of inspection regimes over mattresses and has called for a series of actions including checks for external damage of mattresses and contamination of inside surfaces and the core, arranging for contaminated mattresses to be cleaned or disposed of, and ensuring a frequent inspection regime is set up. The MHRA recommendations must be implemented by 5 March.